Ski creeper



Jan. 29, 1935.

A. c. osBoRN SKI CREEPER Filed March 28, 1954 -Paiemed' Jan. 29, 193sUNITED STATES latam u PATENT OFFICE SKI CREEPER Asa C. Osborn, Weymouth,Mass.

Application March 28, 1934, Serial No. 717,788

7 Claims. (Cl. 208-184) This invention relates to a creeping device tobe detachably secured to a ski, thereby enabling the skier to traversedifficult ascents or descents when it is desired to prevent slipping ofthe` ski upon the traversed surface.

There are many occasions when the skier wishes to establish positivefrictional contact between the skis and the snow or iced surface overwhich he travels. Such is the case in climbing grades or in trailrunning in hilly or mountainous country. 'I'he skier always needs thisfrictional grip upon the snow when he is returning to the top of a skirun. It is possible for an experienced skier to scale some gradeswithout the assistance of a special device upon the skis, for instance,by means of the herringbone step, the side step, or by traversing azigzag path. 'I'hese methods, however, require skill and are exceedinglytiring to the skier and also consume unnecessary time.

It is the chief object of the present invention to provide a devicewhich is readily attached to the ski and which provides the necessaryfrictional engagement with the traversed surface to enable the skier tomove about in difficult places 'when it is desired to prevent slippingof the skis.

A further object of the invention is to provide a creeping device forskis which is light in weight and may be folded into a compact space orsupported at the waist by a belt or strap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a creeping device whichis constructed to establish a maximum of friction with the traversedsurface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a`creeper which iseasily and quickly attached to or detached from the ski. p

Other objects and features will more fully appear from thefollowingdescription in connection with the accompanying drawing and will beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a general view in perspective of the device attached to a ski;

Fig. 2 is a general View of the creeper detached I from the ski.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the front fastening device.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4--4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the folds formed in thestrip.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which thecreeper is illustrated as comprising a strip 1 of sheet materialsubstantially the same width as the ski 2. 'I'hestrip is adapted tooverlie the bottom face of the ski for a portion of its length,preferably adjacent thepoint at which the ski boot 3 is fastened. Thestrip l is provided with transverse shoulders 4, which are formed byprojections 5 in the strip. The projections 5 may be constructed in any5 suitable manner, such as by forming a fold in the material of whichthe strip is made and fastening the fold.

As shown herein, the projections consist of a plurality of plaits 6formed in the strip. The l0 plaits may be fastened by any suitablemeans, such as stitching or, as shown herein, by a plurality of rivets'1.

The strip 1 is desirably constructed of relatively heavy sheet material,such as leather or 15 heavy fabric. The material should be of suflicientthickness to present when folded a substantially deep shoulder 4. Theplaits 6 are formed in the strip symmetrically with respect to eachother, and the strip is fastened to the ski with 20 the shoulders 4facing towards the rear.v Any suitable means may be employed to fastenthe strip to the ski.

As illustrated herein, the rear end of the strip is provided with astrap 8 which is securely fastened transversely to the end of the strip.A desirable method of fastening the strap to the strip consists infolding the end portion of the strip 1 completely around the centralportion of the strap with the extremity 9 of the strip given anadditional half turn about the strap. The additional half turn causesthe end of the strip to assume a position between the strap and theextremity 10 of the main portion of the strip. The strap and strip arethen secured in place by any suitable means, such as the rivets 11,which extend through the various layers of the strip and valso of thestrap. This structure presents a neat appearance, and in case the stripis made of fabric, the raveling of the extreme end of the strip isprevented. The free ends 12 of the lstrap are folded upwardly over thetop of the ski and are provided with apertures 13.

'I'he ski is provided with a rigid fastening member such as a screw 14adapted tobe engaged by the apertures`13 of the strap to secure the rearend of the strap to the ski.

The front end of the creeper strip is provided withadjustable means forsecuring the creeper to the ski. In the preferred form of connecting 0means illustrated herein, the end of the strap 1'? is folded backward topresent a loop 19 at one side of the creeper strip 1, and the end of thecreeper strip 1 is folded around the strap 17 and its Overlapping endportion in the manner here- Abuckiearisnxediysecuredtothestnp l'i at avsuitable distance from the creeper strip 1. 'Ihe alidably mounted uponit a metal loop 23,'which is adapted to engage a suitable rigidfastening .membersuchasascrewmountedinthetp oftheforward'portionoftheski. Infastening-the e creeper strip to the ski. theend portion 21 of the strap l'I is passed through the loop 19, the lo'op23 engaged over the screw 24, and the end portion 21 of the strapbrought backwardly through the loop into engagement with the buckle anddrawn up to secure the connecting mensrmly in place.

'Ihe tip end of the strap 21 desirably is folded over and secured inplace by a rivet 25 to prevent fraying of the end of the strap and alsoto provide a thickened portion, which when passed through the bucklewill not be easily withdrawn, thereby preventing the loss of the slidingloop 23.

'Ihe operations necessary to remove the creeper are obvious and aresubstantially the reverse of the steps required to secure it to the ski.

Other suitable means may be employed to fasten the creeper to the ski.

In use, the projections 5 and the shoulders 4 upon the strip engage withthe snow or other surface and prevent relative motion between the skiand the traversed surface. It 'will be noted that the shoulders 4 oifera maximum resistance to the backward motion of the ski, therebyproviding efficient traction for the forward motion of the skier'. When,however, the ski is brought forward in taking another step, theprojection 5 offers relatively little resistance since the run of thestrip between the plaits 6 presents no substantial obstructien and therearwardly facing shoulders 4 oiler no resistance to this forwardmotion. An ideal condition is-thereby established which enables theskier to proceed forward with a minimum of eilort and lost motion.Furthermore, by the use of this highly efficient device awkward, tiringand many times dangerous falls are avoided.

The rivets 7 are desirably, but not necessarily, situated slightlyforward of the centre line of the plaits 6. As a result of thisconstruction, the fold 25 of the plaits is rendered slightly flexible.When the skier moves forward, the resulting backward force on the ski isabsorbed to a large extent by the shoulders 4. If the traversed surfaceis suiliciently soft and yielding, the fold 25 will yield downwardly, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, thereby automatically more firmlyinterlocking with the surface and thereby providing greater resistanceagainst backward movement of the ski. During the forward motion of theski, the

fold 25 assumes its normal position. More elli--` ciency may be added tothe device by construct` ing the strip l of coarsely woven fabric,whichprovides added friction when the snow is in that condition where ittends to be plastic, in which case the imprint ofy the fabric creates anadditional gripping action therewith.

- 'me rivets used to secure the folds or plaits are desirably sopositioned tint-*their muah endsoverliethebottomfaceof-thecreeper.expanded ends of the'rivetlthereby present especially upon an-icysurface.l

Having thus invention, what isclaimed as new, and desiredtobe by theski, s plurality or folds in said strip prenne' ing shoulders to engagethe traversed surface andprevent slipping oi.' the 'ski thereon. meansto the ski, said strip having a plurality of transverse plaits foldedsymmetrically with respect to each other and presenting shoulders facingin one direction, means to secure said plaits, said shoulders engagingthe traversed surfacevto secure a maximum gripping action of the skiupon the traversed surface in one direction and means to fasten saidstrip to the ski.

4. In combination with a ski having rigid fastening members thereon, acreeping device comprising a strip of sheet material adapted to overliethe bottom face of the ski, said strip having a plurality of folds,means to secure said folds and fastening means at the ends of said stripcoactng with the fastening members on the ski to secure the strip inposition thereon.

5. In combination with a ski having rigid fastening members thereonr acreeping device comprising a strip of sheet material adapted to overliethe bottom face of the ski, said strip having a plurality of folds,means to secure said folds and adjustable fastening means at the ends ofsaid strip coacting with the fastening members on the ski to draw thestrip taut and secin'e it in position upon the ski.

6. A ski creeper comprising a strip of sheet material adapted to engagethe bottom face of the ski, said strip having a plurality of transverseplaits, meansh to secure said plaits, said securing means being disposedadjacent one edge of the plaits thereby permitting flexibility of thedouble thickness of the sheet material atthe other edge of the plait andmeans t`o secure said strip to the ski.

7. A ski creeperA comprising a strip of sheet material adapted to engagethevbottom face of the ski, said strip having a plurality of transversefolds presenting shoulders, a plurality bf metallic rivets acting tosecure said folds and having their expanded ends at the bottom face ofthe strip thereby presenting rough metallic areas for gripping icysurfaces and means to secure said strip to the ski.

'ASA C. OSBORN.

